Lifted Vision Ministry

This may come as a shock, but Japan is actually quite a religious country despite the fact that less than 1% of the Japanese population confess to be Christian. This is due to the Japanese being a spiritual people, although their worship is massively misdirected, as we will dive into today.
To better understand Japanese people is to first understand their cultural and religious motivations. Quasi-religious systems coupled with several other religions are not only widespread in Japan but heavily practiced as well. The list is extensive regarding the different types of spiritual practices that the Japanese involve themselves in. Just by grazing the tip of the iceberg we can find: Shintoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Shamanism, Daoism, polytheistic nature worship, witchcraft, palmistry, fortune-telling, astrology, divination, etc…etc… These practices are extremely commonplace in work, court and life due to the fact that Japanese people are pluralistic in their religious worship. This plurality demonstrates that the Japanese do not inherently worship one “god” but rather involve themselves in various conflicting spiritual practices at the same time. This is due to the fact that they tend to put their trust in a myriad of religions and “spiritual methods” while maintaining the belief that they are not conflicting or contradicting in the least.

Today’s post is about a peculiar shrine I found in Kyoto, Japan with a rather sad “god” inhabiting it. This shrine, pictured below, is actually a popular television character in Japan. The Japanese have turned this character into a “god” for their pleasure and to satisfy their desire to worship. They pray to this stone teddy bear for apparent, ” happiness,” under the false notion that, “it won’t hurt to try and pray to it.” An American equivalent would be making a stone Mickey Mouse then praying to and worshipping it.

We must pray and believe for Japan to encounter the only one, the true and living God, Jesus Christ. Without sharing the gospel to the Japanese, they may never have the chance to experience His mercy and have a true Father-child relationship with Him.

– ROMANS 10: 1-4 NKJV –
“Israel Needs the Gospel”
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

I would like to liken Japan as the modern day Israel, according to the reference of this scripture. The similarities are uncanny, and I believe it describes the current spiritual state of Japan perfectly. My heart is also echoed throughout Paul’s words as well, for my deepest desire is to see all Japanese people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

– ROMANS 10: 14-15 NKJV –
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

I believe that God’s heart is for all people, including the Japanese and that He is reaching out to us because He wants us to come to the spot of reconciliation with Him. Jesus desires a restored relationship between Himself and us, which He already paid the highest price for by dying willingly on the cross in our stead. I beseech you, brothers and sister, to please pray with me for the Japanese; that their misdirected prayer, belief and worship would be all for Jesus and for Jesus Christ alone! That their eyes and ears would be open to the gospel message of Jesus now more than ever before! Thank you for reading! God bless you and God bless Japan!